MIPro January issue 176

FOR EVERYONE IN THE MI BUSINESS | ISSUE 176 | JANUARY 2015

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NO. 176 • JANUARY 2015 • WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK PRINT • ONLINE • MOBILE

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE THE SALES MAN P11 SECRET DEALER P47 MYSTERY SHOPPER P50

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PROFESSIONAL • FOR EVERYONE IN THE MI BUSINESS

The Winter NAMM exhibition returns this month for its 113th outing. Check out our comprehensive show preview to make sure you don’t miss out on any of this year’s main attractions...

SEE PAGE 15

We speak to some of the classical sector’s most

32 CLASSICAL

California Dreamin’

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r e s o n a t eExpand Your Share of the Market

BUILD your brand

SHOW your products

REACH your customers

www.namm.org/thenammshow

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WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK PRINT • ONLINE • MOBILE

No. 176 • January 2015

IT’S THAT TIME of year again, when the international MI community converges upon LA to show off its newest releases and hopefully secure some new business for the year ahead. Of course, many exhibitors are remaining tight-lipped when it comes to their upcoming launches, preferring to wait until day one of the show to lift the lid on their latest lines. However, as is customary in our January edition, we are able to provide a comprehensive guide to what you can expect when the doors to the Convention Centre open on January 22nd. And while we’re on the subject of new things for 2015, you may also notice a couple of changes to your monthly MI Pro. Nothing too radical, mind. More of a refresh than a reinvention. Boasting more interviews and feature length articles than ever before, we’ve got extended expert sales commentary from MI Pro regular Colin Rees, along with

from Rafael Ruiz, partner at legal advice

fascinating insights into the complex world of competition law. Also new for 2015 is our MI Pioneers

the career of Orange CEO and industry legend, Cliff Cooper. Elsewhere, WiMN founder, Laura B. Whitmore tells us about the issues facing women in MI and offers a glimpse at what

Completing the line-up is our retail

We hope you enjoy these new features

Happy new yearEDITORIAL COMMENTIN THIS ISSUE

Darrell CarterCommercial Director

[email protected]

Follow us on Twitter@MIProfessional

Kelly SambridgeHead of Design

nbmedia.com

[email protected]

12

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Enquiries to: MI Pro, NewBay Media, Saxon House, 6a St. Andrew Street, Hertford SG14 1JA.

Tel: 01992 535646 (Editorial) Tel: 01992 535647 (Sales) Fax: 01992 535648

© NewBay Media 2014All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without the express prior written consent of the publisher. The contents of MiPro are subject to reproduction in information storage and retrieval systems. Printed by Pensord, Tram Road, Pontllanfraith, NP12 2YA

REGULARS: Analysis 6 • MIA 8 • Colin Rees 11 • 23 • Secret Dealer 47 • New Gear 53 • 56

Elizabeth Parker Production Executive

Laura B. WhitmoreFounder of the WiMN (Women’s International

about the issues facing women in MI

Secret DealerThe perils of over the phone debit/credit card transactions is under our Secret Dealer’s scrutiny this month

New GearNew products from

UDG, Meinl, Laney, Focusrite, Iconic Sound,

47 53

Daniel GumbleEditor

47 Retail Analysis

year warranty cover issued by Roland across a range of its digital pianos

49 Guitar Village in Farnham is the focus of this

50 Mystery Shopper Our man of mystery heads

Street. Again.

53 New Gear We shine a spotlight on some of the newest products to hit the MI

15 NAMM 2015 MI Pro provides a comprehensive preview to the upcoming LA extravaganza

23 Birketts

off a brand new column

law

28 Cenzo Townshend

with the acclaimed mixer and producer

32 Classical gas

37 Effects Pedals

some of the most prominent pedals available on the

are old and new models from Chord, Xvive, Fret-King, Aguilar, Seymour Duncan and Movall.

RETAIL FEATURES RETAIL ESSENTIALS

Karma BertelsenAccount Manager

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Taking control

Iconic UK drum brand, Premier, has dropped its distributor Hanser in the US and plans to attack the market directly, building its own US

dealer network...

ANALYSIS

ESSENTIALLY

BY RONNIE DUNGAN

“Obviously the NAMM 2015 exhibition will be pivotal for us in re-establishing relationships directly with our US dealers.”

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THE MIA exists to Promote, Protect and Support the UK Music Making Industry. This applies to doing all we can to keep every possible shop trading on the UK’s high streets. Easy to say, but it’s the actions to support the message that count.

Consumers are swamped with choice of where and how to buy, and we

ensure they are buying

best music businesses our industry can offer.

We are, therefore, proud to announce the launch of Trusted Music Store (TMS), a brand new campaign to support our high street retailers by encouraging customers to buy from their MIA shops.

The logo you see here is trademarked and will be available for MIA retail members who are part of the TMS Scheme to display in both their shop windows, as a full colour A5 sticker(s), and as electronic images for their website.

We have tested the logo on many retailers and suppliers and feel that we have arrived at something that is visually representative and easily

public as a brand able to deliver more than just an instrument purchase and a guarantee.

All shops participating in the scheme will be added to a database of shops in the TMS scheme. With its own domain name, the public will be able to see who and where the trusted shops are.

The website will naturally focus attention on why

being highlighted. As we move forward, website information can be

information that TMS shops may want to bring to the attention of the public.

In addition, the major suppliers and distributor brands have signed up to special warranty terms for the customer that they will honour should any TMS shop cease to trade. We naturally hope this will never happen, but read on…

Importance of ATOL on the holiday businessAny shop going out of business is obviously a disaster for the people involved and the community that the shop serves, but this warranty cover is a critical aspect that helps customers choose whom they buy from. In their minds, knowing their warranties are safe and secure, regardless of the trading status of the shop, is a very persuasive reason to favour that business.

The supporting brands for the scheme will also be shown on the website to reinforce this key message.

We plan to launch

the public straight after Christmas. This will involve a press release to the general and local media throughout the UK.

How do I get involved?As a trade body, we are naturally here to support the industry at large and,

We are more than happy to welcome non-members into the Association so that they can take part in the scheme

that we offer. We will have a special deal for any retailer wanting to join the MIA and take part in TMS, so please see contact details below.Any current MIA retailer wanting to be included in the scheme needs to email [email protected]. Clare will send you the Agreement Form that you need to sign and get straight back to us. Equally, if you would like to enquire about joining the MIA, email John at [email protected], simply call us on 01403 800500.

“This warranty cover is a critical aspect that helps customers choose who they buy from.”

NAMM 2015 Preview

PAGE

15

08 MIPRO JANUARY 2015 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK

The MIA is the trade body for the UK musical instrument industry, servicing

and representing the interests of manufacturers, importers, publishers, retailers and supporting businesses.

A new campaign to support UK retailers!MIA chief Paul McManus tells us about a brand new initiative to be introduced this year that is aimed squarely at supporting high street dealerships by encouraging shoppers to buy from their local MIA stores...

Xxx

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Untitled-1 1 9/25/2014 4:47:10 PM

There could be hidden net

How to get more from your existing consumer

Effects pedalsPAGE

37

IT IS SAID there is 25 per cent more business available from every customer base.

from your store.

for shops to wait for people to come in as

every customer.

we unlock that potential?

as simple as the way they ask their questions? “Is there anything else I can help

they give them a chance to say ‘no’.What is the customer feeling? I have what

let’s get out.

be the result on sales of PR kits that week?

offers me a bar of chocolate for £1 each time I have bought a paper for the last six months

So it has been with bikes where the biggest

JANUARY 2015 WWW.MI- MIPRO 11

COLIN REES

COLIN REES is a veteran sales trainer and business consultant with many decades’ worth of expertise in the bicycle retail sector.

THE SALES MANProMagTM

The industry standard acoustic sound hole pickup from Dean Markley, conceived and crafted in the USA.

All ProMag pickups in the range deliver superbly smooth, high-end response with perfect balance across all the strings. And like all Dean Markley

products, you can expect the same generous margins!

KORG UK 01908 304601

Ace in the hole

“If a salesman says ‘everyone I speak to this week will be offered a repair kit’, what do you think the result will be?”

11 MiPro176 Colin Rees_final.indd 1 16/12/2014 15:00

WHERE TO begin on the issue of male dominance in our industry? You won’t need me to tell you that the market is, and always has been, something of a proverbial sausage fest, where the notion of woman as

doubt and confusion amongst the trade’s more conservative types. As a male who plays music with a female drummer, I’ve witnessed the reactions of fellow musicians at the sight of a woman sat behind a kit. Some offer a patronising ‘good for you’ slap on the back after a performance; others, a reassuring ‘you’re not bad for girl’ pat on the head. In some cases, a palpable suspicion of witchcraft can permeate the venue. In what is supposed to be a creative, forward-thinking

these dinosauric attitudes continue to rear their ugly heads on such a disconcertingly regular basis.

That’s not say things are all bad - many of those who work in the MI trade are all for a more representative gender balance - yet a strange dichotomy does still exist. Anecdotal evidence suggests that more and more women are buying instruments and forming

of women working within the MI

industry remains pitifully low, especially in the retail sector. MI Pro has pressed several UK retailers on the issue and almost every one has said that they would welcome more female members of staff.

Perhaps a lack females in prominent roles within the market belies the problem? The presence of more women would certainly help inspire others to get involved; not just as consumers, but as active players in the MI business.

In the US, writer and musician

Laura B. Whitmore has been at the fore of an ongoing campaign to get more women involved with the industry. Having spent over 20 years working in artist relations and marketing for Korg in the US, she has drawn upon her experiences to launch many laudable initiatives, such as her WiMN (Women’s International Music Network) organisation and the She Rocks Awards.

“I started working at Korg USA in artist relations and marketing

around 1988,” she explains. “Fast forward 20 years and I ended up becoming its marketing manager and working with a number of its other brands, I also became editor of its magazine, ProView. I left about seven years ago and that’s when I started Mad Sun Marketing, a marketing company for the music and audio industries. It took a little while to get things rolling, but now I’m feeling like we might be around for a while, which is good!”

THE WIMNA couple of years ago, Whitmore set about launching the annual She Rocks Awards and forming the WiMN, with the intention of celebrating women in the industry and providing them with an international information hub.

“The whole WiMN thing came about in a sort of sideways way. I started writing a column for Guitar World and I also started a blog called Guitar Girl’d for female guitarists. Out of that grew this

event called the Women’s Music

to becoming a real advocate for

Women’s Music Summit happened around two and a half years ago and we brought in some celebrity players, like Meshell Ndegeocello and Marnie Stern, and we did some panels and workshops that were really wonderful.

“From that, things really

Awards and the WiMN came about through a conversation with Bill Amstutz at NewBay Media in New York. He said NewBay had some great women’s events in other industries, so wouldn’t it be cool if there was something similar for the music industry? From that, everything else happened. As I was working on the awards, I thought there should be some kind of hub for women in music; a way to connect them; a home base for the She Rocks Awards and the Summit. So that’s how I formed the WiMN, which was in 2012.”

Since launching in 2012, the awards have gone from strength to strength. Held at the Winter NAMM show, the ceremony has shifted from its former breakfast slot to a Friday night gala event.

“The past two She Rocks Awards

INTERVIEW

A man’s world?

“More girls and women are picking up instruments and playing in bands. That will make things change in the next generation. Things won’t always be the same.”

BY DANIEL GUMBLE

The market has long been a male-dominated arena, with a woefully low number of females working in the industry. Daniel Gumble caught up with Women’s International Music Network

12 13 MiPro176 Interview_final.indd 1 15/12/2014 12:16

Top and above left: Laura B. Whitmore with Orianthi at the 2014 She Rocks AwardsRight: Laura B. Whitmore with Sheila E, also at the She Rocks Awards

took place at breakfast during NAMM on the Friday morning. We started with that time because of

was a good way of getting our feet wet without committing to a lot of expense. This year we are taking a leap of faith and will be holding the awards on the Friday night (January 23rd). I’ll be co-hosting the event with Orianthi, so I’m thrilled that she’ll be there with me. We’ll also be honouring The Bangles – it’s the 30th anniversary

doing a tribute to them.”

PERSONAL EXPERIENCESSo what of Whitmore’s own experiences of working in the music industry?

“Honestly, I’ve had a pretty good time of it. When I was younger I started singing and

went to middle school I traded

in the ‘70s so there was a folky scene anyway, which I really got into. I worked with the Marshall and Vox brands for 20 years at Korg, but it never occurred to me to play electric guitar until much later when I started writing for Guitar World. I was in a rock band for years, but I was singing and not playing guitar. Eventually, it was Brad Tolinski at Guitar World that encouraged me to pick up an electric guitar. It was really freeing and made me wonder why I had never done it before. That’s about all I can say. I was never discouraged; I never thought I shouldn’t be holding an instrument because I’m a girl.”

She did, however, encounter a less than welcoming atmosphere whilst cutting her teeth as an audio engineer. Yet she is keen to point out that the courses had a positive effect on her career.

“My one experience of that [being discouraged] would be in college, when I took courses in audio engineering. I was one of very few women and felt it was’t encouraged for women. However, that training has really helped me; I know how to use Pro Tools, I can record myself. I’m not sad that I did it but it was a little uncomfortable.”

RETAIL ROLE MODELS Whitmore feels that now is a good time for girls making their

doing their bit for the cause.“Guitar Center has a VP

named Laura Taylor who is a huge advocate for women in the industry. She initiated a programme to make their stores

more female friendly, so she started employing more women and showing more women in their ads. I think that’s the only way it’s going to change; I don’t think it’s going to be a natural progression. Well, it could be, but it’s going to take a really long time if it happens that way. “There’s a great vintage guitar store in Brooklyn where the two main guitar techs – who have left to start their own company – were women. I interviewed one of them and they told me that sometimes guys would come in and they wouldn’t want a woman working on their guitar! Even if she’s the best tech in the store. That stuff happens. But I don’t want to be pessimistic, because as more girls and women are picking up instruments and playing in bands and becoming engineers, that will make things change in the next generation. It won’t always be the same.”

WOMEN IN MARKETING The marketing of products can play a pivotal role in attitudes towards women, with Whitmore citing the sexualisation of females in advertising as something that needs to change.

“Some brands are blatantly sexual in their advertising, and I don’t think that’s necessary in any industry, but I get it. You have to sell. I guess it’s about how much integrity you have. I, as a marketer of musical instruments, feel you can sell without going there, but I don’t want to put those brands down, because I know it’s tough and sometimes people want a

write for Guitar World and they show models with almost nothing on and a guitar between their legs because they know that it sells. What am I going to do? Not do what I do because they do that? You have to suck it up sometimes and say ‘I’m going to change what I can change and not freak out over that. I would hope that brands and retailers realise that there is a huge potential market that they aren’t reaching. For them to not do something to reach that market is very short sighted.”

It’s clear that more must be done before we can say the market has struck an even gender balance,

pushing the issue and providing a community with which to connect, surely things can only improve? By breaking from the male-dominated mould, not only will

diversity, it will introduce a vast new audience to the industry. And that can only be a good thing.

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JANUARY 2015 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK MIPRO 15

WITH CHRISTMAS now but a memory, the industry’s attention turns to the annual Winter NAMM expo. From January 22nd-25th, the LA show will set the scene for brands to unveil their newest products and innovations before a truly international audience – over 95,000 attendees from more than 90 countries - while a plethora of networking events away from

attendees with the perfect platform upon which to connect with clients and fellow professionals.

Twelve months ago, the market was priming itself for a period of recovery, following a number of positive reports, yet the year

that followed failed to live up to expectations. This time around, predictions and forecasts have been somewhat muted, although some businesses are indicating that things are starting to pick up, albeit it on a modest scale.

With that in mind, many will be looking to make a big impact with their LA launches and hoping to set the tone for the year ahead.

As ever, many of those exhibiting will be keeping their new products under wraps until the Anaheim Convention Centre’s doors open. However, we’re able to offer an early glimpse of what’s on offer at this year’s show.

TANGLEWOOD HALL C #4258Tanglewood Guitars will again be

of new products for 2015. New ranges for preview prior to

a phased 2015 launch will include the Sundance Delta Historic Series, an all new Mahogany range of traditionally styled guitars; the Evolution Deluxe Series, which will bring some new wood combinations to a whole new price point; the

Evolution Viscount Series, a new Jumbo range in Arctic White, Piano Black and Transparent Orange; the all-new Nashville V Series, which will see its UK launch in April; as well as a wholly new entry-level series, Discovery by Tanglewood, in a range of models and timbers to suit all tastes.

Existing lines will also feature new model launches, including the Java range and the recently expanded Roadster Series, with an all-new combination of models.

As Tanglewood Guitars is now

worldwide, many of its international partners will be visiting NAMM, so

arrange a convenient time to have your own personal viewing and receive background information on all new lines on the booth.

JHS HALL B #5267JHS will showcase its Fret-King and Vintage electric lines, with designer Trev Wilkinson on-hand to talk visitors through the instruments on display. A host of players, including Matt Smith, Jerry Donahue, Thomas Blug and Gregg Wright will guest as

demo artists.Vintage Acoustics, including

the Gordon Giltrap and Paul Brett signature instruments, will be

while the Paul Brett ‘Gemini’ launches at the show.

UK-designed Pilgrim guitars and Folk Instruments on display will

acoustic guitar. Furthermore, amongst a selection of folk instruments, Pilgrim launches the Celtic Dawn Tenor Resonator Banjo.

Encore, now in its 30th anniversary year, will also be showing an array of products.

Santos Martinez classical guitars will be on show at the booth, catering for all players, from the seasoned performer, with the Ray Burley Signature, to new players of all ages with the Estuduiante series.

Meanwhile, Odyssey will have British designer and master craftsman Peter Pollard on hand to showcase a number of his brass and woodwind creations.

BARNES & MULLINS HALL E, #1308Faith Guitars will be enjoying its

“Exhibitors at the show will no doubt be looking to set the tone for the year ahead and make a big impact with their new launches.”

Way outwestMaking its 113th outing this year, the Winter NAMM expo remains one of the biggest events on the international MI calendar. With a raft of retailers, brands, suppliers and trade professionals once again set to descend upon LA’s Anaheim Convention Centre for the four-day event, MI Pro provides a peek at what to expect from this year’s event…

15 16 19 20 21 MIPro176 Namm_v5.indd 15 15/12/2014 20:56


show in January 2015. Already with a strong foothold in Europe and Asia, Barnes & Mullins – Faith Guitars’ parent company – is keen to move into the super-competitive and

previously exhibited at numerous Frankfurt and Shanghai exhibitions

and the 2014 Nashville Summer NAMM show, Faith Guitars is well established in global territories, but as yet, the right partner in the US has been elusive.

“We have been patiently waiting

Faith in the US,” said Alex Mew, the brand’s director. “There has been some success demonstrated by directly supplying retailers across the states, but the key to true

messages and overall marketing activities that will add both credibility and structural integrity to the core products. So, our investment in Winter NAMM 2015 will be directed toward this end.”

YAMAHA AND STEINBERG MARRIOTT HOTEL BOOTH

As ever, Yamaha and Steinberg will be showcasing a vast array of products from across its extensive product ranges. Visitors can no doubt expect a series of brand new launches, while a plethora of existing lines will also be on display.

STUDIOMASTER & CARLSBRO HALL B #5470

The 2015 NAMM exhibition will see many new products on display from Studiomaster and Carlsbro.

For Studiomaster there are several new product developments. The new DRIVE series of moulded active and passive 12” and 15” cabinets to replace the VPX/VSX series will be on display, while the new CLUBXS series of compact fully featured

mixing consoles and the new VISION series, an ultra compact powered and unpowered range of consoles to

active and passive cabinets, will also be showcased

For Carlsbro, a revised KICKSTART range of entry-level

introduced to the UK market later in 2015, additions to the SHERWOOD

and revised range of cables and stands will all be on show.

Alongside all these new products, both brands will be highlighting to

working with them.To make an appointment at the

companies’ stand, contact [email protected].

ROTOSOUND HALL C #4278

Rotosound at Winter NAMM 2015 will be exhibiting its full range of strings and accessories, including the recently launched collection of retro guitar pedals.

The company has been rolling out its innovative new environmentally friendly foil packaging and the 2015 NAMM show will see the introduction of further products in the range shipping with the foil packs, which keep the strings factory fresh and is designed to provide an unparalleled moisture barrier, ensuring strings will not tarnish or fade while in the packs.

Artist Appearances on the Rotosound stand will include legendary bassist Billy Sheehan with more announcements to come. You can meet Billy and Rotosound chairman Jason How at the OMG stand #4278, Hall C.

PORTER & DAVIES HALL D #3476Porter & Davies, Tactile Monitoring specialist, will announce the launch at Winter NAMM 2015 of its new KT Platform, which uses the transmission of sound by Kinetic Transfer (KT) to enable musicians to feel and hear their playing internally, instead of relying on conventional audio methods.

Suitable for bass players, DJs, guitarists, stand-up keyboard players and percussionists, the KT Platform is built to provide a full and faithful transfer of the sound and the weight of the sound through bone conduction with no time lag. All notes are faithfully transmitted, including harmonics.

The company will also be

“There has been some success demonstrated by directly supplying retailers across the states, but the key to true success lay

messages and overall marketing activities.”

15 16 19 20 21 MIPro176 Namm_v5.indd 16 15/12/2014 20:56

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Winter Madness MI JAN 15..qxp_Layout 1 09/12/2014 09:05 Page 1

exhibiting its range of silent drum monitors, the Gigster, BC2, BC2rm, which are now used by an impressive

These include artists such as Clem Burke, Kenny Aronoff, Ray Luzier, Matt Sorum and the recently signed Arctic Monkey’s drummer Matt Helders and the drummer of

ORANGE AMPLIFICATION HALL C #4890

be unveiling a whole host of new products at the forthcoming NAMM

of exciting new products to reveal for both guitar and bass players, plus Orange’s Music Education division will be revealing a number of their

Details of all these new products will be available on the Orange Music Booth 4890, Hall C, on the

Orange ambassadors Glenn Hughes and Andrew Watt (California Breed), Ty Tabor (King’s X), Larry “Ler” LaLonde (Primus) and members of Deftones and Fall Out Boy will be dropping by the booth all

D’ADDARIO HALL C #4834D’Addario is to launch a number of new products and developments for

EXP Acoustic: D’Addario will introduce the latest innovation - proprietary high-carbon steel wire, NY Steel - to its line of EXP acoustic

engineered to be stronger and more consistent than any other standard musical wire, leading to a string with

Ukulele sets: D’Addario’s ukulele string product line is expanding to offer players the full range of sound for their instrument or playing

for the Soprano, Concert, Tenor, and Baritone ukulele span a variety

Low G tuning, which has become increasingly popular amongst

American Stage Kill Switch cables: American Stage Kill Switch cables are precision engineered and

The cables feature a momentary Kill Switch for silencing the cable

The exclusive D’Addario designed, Neutrik built plugs feature the patented Geo-tip, ensuring a secure

connection in any instrument, pedal, or amp, while the in-line micro

connection and strength at the

Capo range expansion: D’Addario has expanded on its capo line, offering three new options for

on the NS Artist Capo are designed to simulate DADGAD and Drop D tunings on standard-tuned guitars, while the new Classical model is

All of these items will be available in the UK from February 1st 2015

ALFRED MUSIC HALL C #4618Alfred Music is announcing new Complete Starter Packs intended to join its popular line of products at

Alfred’s Teach Yourself to Play Banjo Complete Starter Pack includes

mylar resonating head for a full, rich soundboard, and a mahogany

Also included is the Alfred’s Teach Yourself to Play Banjo (Book, CD & DVD) method, which begins by teaching the basics of learning to play the banjo, including how to hold and tune the instrument, and moves along to teach users to play

The Teach Yourself to Play Mandolin Complete Starter Pack contains a full-size Firebrand spruce top mandolin, including light-gauge steel strings to make playing

Teach Yourself to Play Mandolin (Book, CD & DVD) method to begin playing their instrument, starting with how to use picks and an introduction

“An array of high


15 16 19 20 21 MIPro176 Namm_v5.indd 17 15/12/2014 21:01


to standard music notation. This method allows users to master important mandolin techniques, such as tremolo and cross picking.

Alfred’s Kids’ Drum Course Complete Starter Pack contains percussion instruments, including a tambourine, set of maracas, woodblock, and mallets. The included method, Alfred’s Kid’s Drum Course (Book & CD) uses simple language that’s easy to understand to teach kids to play rhythms and songs on a variety of drums and sound sources.

ARIA HALL C #4278A resurgent Aria and its Aria Pro II

its efforts to attempt to restore the Japanese guitar marque to its former levels of popularity.

Three bass ranges and two guitar lines are launching at this year’s NAMM, all boasting eye-catching colour schemes, premium features and competitive pricing.

First up, there are four in the PE-512 range of six-string electrics, each product sporting a laminated

body with a heel-less cutaway. The set neck is also made of the same nato wood. Each guitar has a 22-fret

The pickups are two Seymour Duncan-designed HB-101 humbuckers, selectable through a three-way switch with sound controlled through two-volume and two-tone knobs.

Available in January at an RRP of around £279, the guitars are available in a choice of four colours - red, purple, blue and amber brown.

The Mac Lux guitar line has three colour options - black and gold, red and gold and blue and gold - each

feature a carved top ash body with a bolt-on maple neck covered with a

two ASJ-1s and an AHJ-1, controlled

volume and tone knobs. RRP is around £689.

Aria’s new bass line-up is all pitched around the same £739 price point, but offers a number of bright colour options.

The IGB-Lux is ash, with a carved top and a three-ply, 24-fret, bolt-on maple neck under a rosewood

the power - an APJ-1 and an AJJ-1. Controls are volume, balance, treble and bass. Machine heads are GOTOH GB707s. Hardware is chrome.

or red over a gold stain. Similarly-shaped, the IGB-RC is

a more ostentatious option, with

red and silver and blue and silver, the body is ayous, with a carved top and the neck is three-ply maple under rosewood. Pickups are APJ-1 and AJJ-1 with the same volume, balance, treble and bass controls as on the IGB-Lux. Machineheads are GOTOH GB350 Res-O-Lite.

Lastly, the RSB 1500/M bass has the widest range of colour options -

caramel burst and see-through red, blue and green.

The body is maple with a quilted

is a one-piece maple bolt-on with

also two AJJ-1 pickups capable of adjusting; volume, balance, treble and bass controls.

STENTOR MUSIC HALL C #4219At NAMM 2015, the company will be showing a range of Stentor violins, violas, cellos and double basses, including its high grade Messina, Elysia and Arcadia violins. These are handcrafted instruments, carved from selected

MXL MICROPHONES HALL A #6690MXL Microphones will be showcasing new studio and live microphones from the retro-styled black and chrome CR Series, such as the award-winning CR89 Condenser, the CR77 Live Dynamic Microphone, as well as the new Genesis FET and Revelation Solo studio microphones. In addition, the USB microphone line will be on display, along with the line of Mobile Media microphones, which are designed to be used alongside mobile devices.

MXL will also launch its MM-4000 Mini Mixer and portable audio mixer for mobile phones, tablets, and computers. With it, the user can record audio to a device using up to four electret microphones simultaneously, essentially turning four analogue inputs into one analogue or digital output.

KORG HALL A #6440Korg will be showcasing the recently announced KRONOS, which will be on demo throughout the show and available for visitors to try. The new KRONOS now at V3.0 has a number of enhancements to the user interface and the update SGX-1 Piano Engine - now SGX-2. This update introduces

15 16 19 20 21 MIPro176 Namm_final.indd 18 16/12/2014 15:06


the new Berlin Grand piano to the existing

deep German Grand and lively Japanese

Grand, with the Berlin Grand offering a

resonant piano sound with enhanced depth.

Visitors can expect an array of new

products that are likely to be released on the

opening day of the show.

PREMIER HALL D #3464

Premier will be launching its Modern Classic

Club drum set to the US market at this year’s

NAMM. Originally released as a dedicated

snare range back in 2001, the Modern Classic

range now features a selection of three-piece

kits that are overtly retro with clean tones and

a modern build quality, exclusively designed

and handcrafted in England.

The Modern Classic Club features ultra-thin

birch/mahogany shells with no sound rings, 30

degree round-over waxed bearing edges, low-

mass solid brass tube lugs, 5mm solid rolled

chrome hoops with solid bronze clips, undrilled

bass drums and Remo USA drumheads.

birdseye maple; protected by a hand-applied

satin oil complemented with contrasting

wooden bass drum hoops, the Modern Classic

Club was initially launched in May 2014 to the

UK and European markets.

The range will now feature the addition

hammered snare option.

The range forms a new-look portfolio from

Premier that also includes the introduction

of several new ranges, including an

TC GROUP HALL B #5932

TC Group will be launching a number of new

MI products at NAMM 2015. As ever, details

are still tightly under wraps at this stage, but

we can say that there will be two new vocal

products from TC-Helicon, two new guitar

pedals and a range of bass product from

TC Electronic, along with all the recently

announced vocal, guitar and bass kits that

TC Group has introduced in the past few

months. Also on show will be a selection

of studio monitors from both Tannoy and

Dynaudio Professional brands.

MEINL BOOTH CONVENTION CENTRE

LEVEL 2 204A

Meinl will introduce various new cajon

models, accessories, bongos, djembes and

new hand percussion instruments. As far as

Meinl cymbals are concerned, there will be

additions to the Byzance and HCS ranges.

MARSHALL HALL B #5740

Marshall will be unveiling a collection of

new products from all three of its brands

15 16 19 20 21 MIPro176 Namm_final.indd 19 16/12/2014 15:24

AdTemplate.indd 1 12/12/2014 15:18


BIRKETTS

COMPETITION LAW regulators in the UK and Europe are repeatedly stating their belief that increased use of the Internet for retail sales will bring about supply chain

reductions and increased choices

it is now more important than ever

and retailers to understand how competition law works and affects them; what it allows and what it

of breaching it are.The purpose of this article is to

give a brief explanation of how UK and EU competition law affects the arrangements that can lawfully be

and retailers in a supply chain.

background to how this area of

some of the types of restrictions and arrangements that suppliers

some of those they cant. In the

explore some of the advantages and disadvantages of adopting one.

THE LEGAL BACKGROUND UK and EU competition prohibits as anti-competitive: all agreements, decisions and concerted practices between undertakings that have

as either their object or effect, the prevention, distortion or restriction of competition in the UK (or the EU), and which may have an appreciable effect on trade within the UK or a part of the UK (or between member states of the EU).

It is important to note that the prohibition doesn’t just apply to

but that it covers all types of arrangements and concerted practices too. In this context it must also be remembered that

practices a person has with one counterparty will not be viewed in

practices that person has with other

which may have an anti-competitive effect or object.

by which any such agreements can be “approved” as being lawful by the Regulators (the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) here in the

in the EU). It is up to the parties themselves to assess whether their agreements fall foul of the above

they either fall within the scope of the safe harbour of the Vertical Agreements Block Exemption; meet

exemption on the basis that they are

whereby the anti-competitive effect is deemed to be not “appreciable.”

of both the buyer and the seller must be less than 30 per cent of the relevant market. It is important

that the safe harbour of the Block Exemption is available.

as satisfying yourself that your

analysis of the object and effect of

an economic and legal perspective.

CONSEQUENCESThe risks of an agreement infringing

the prohibition are as follows:• The parties may be ordered to cease or modify the agreement • per cent of worldwide turnover • The restrictions (and sometimes the agreement itself) may be unenforceable • Third parties may bring an action

injunction in the civil courts• Directors of companies that infringe UK or EU competition law

director

involved. These include:• Bad publicity• Diversion of management time• industry advisers • Increased risk of ongoing surveillance • Increased risk of future complaints or investigations

For more information, contact Rafael Ruiz on 01245 211288 or [email protected]. This article provides a summary, and is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Readers should take legal advice before applying the

issues. Neither Birketts LLP or the author, accept any liability for any reliance placed on the contents of this article.

The Internet, the supply chain

andcompetition law

“It is more important than ever for manufacturers, distributors and retailers to understand how competition law works.”

RAFAEL RUIZ, PARTNER, BIRKETTS

23 MiPro176 Feature_final.indd 41 15/12/2014 12:12


MI Pioneers: Cliff Cooper

Cliff Cooper…

FEW WOULD argue that there is not a more iconic, instantly recognisable

than Orange. Ever since its arrival

boast similar iconic status within a particular musical form, be it heavy

Lee, Glenn Hughes, Scissor Sisters, amongst many others. Of course, the attractive logo

components throughout its lines,

popularity, but the main reason

the business.

1960s

time fully to retail, selling a range

Orange shop, complete with bright

After a short time, the young

he sought the services of amp

several complaints from locals on

“Ever since its arrival in 1968, the brand has boasted a supremely distinct identity.”

24 25 27 MiPro176 MI Pioneers_final2.indd 19 16/12/2014 12:39

JANUARY 2015 WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK MIPRO

The Beatles, The Small Faces, Stevie

1970s/80s

of the curve with the invention of

the time.

“The business quickly attracted a number of

from the world of rock and pop.”

Above: Cliff Cooper recieving the Queen’s Award from Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip Left: Cooper in the back of the shop where he lived for a time


26 MIPro176_Velta.indd 1 16/12/2014 13:10


working with John Miles, Smokie, Nigel Benjamin, Cock Sparrer and The Stylistics. During this time he also opened The Orange Agency, booking artists such as Joe Cocker and Ike and Tina Turner amongst others. Elsewhere, with the demand

of products showing no sign of slowing, a new manufacturing plant was opened in Bexleyheath, Kent

production increase. This period also saw Cooper take the Orange brand stateside; its products now being distributed in the US for the

Furthermore, the launch of its Custom Reverb Twin MKII and

one of the most innovative names on the market. With a number of business ventures to his name heading into the 1980s, production of Orange amps began to slow, with Cooper building and selling models in small quantities for export and to special order only. He also entered

stores on Denmark Street, including Hanks Guitars, Rose Morris, Argents and Rhodes and World of Pianos.

1990s/2000sHaving established a number of successful enterprises outside of the

production of Orange amps in the ‘80s eventually resulted in Cooper licensing the brand to Gibson in 1993 and reclaiming it in 1997. His

reunion with the brand proved to be incredibly fruitful.

users of the era was Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher, who, using an Orange Overdrive, was approached

director, Adrian Elmsley, to work

help optimise his sound. In search

preamp. The changes made in conjunction with Gallagher ended

OTR range.

its AD Series, garnering much critical acclaim and attracting several internationally recognised artists along the way.

on the rise, Cooper seized the opportunity to expand into the new millennium, not only building upon its product roster with a series of technologically advanced models, such as its Tiny Terror range, Rockerverb Series, OPC (Orange Personal Computer), VT1000 Valve Tester and Dual Dark models, but also with a raft of merchandise items and accessories. Elsewhere, identifying yet another opportunity overseas, Cooper now has two Chinese manufacturing facilities to meet the growing demand in the Asian market, complementing its operation for distribution and manufacture in Atlanta, USA.

THE FUTUREThe rapid rate at which Orange has expanded over the past two decades currently shows no sign of slowing. While it is and always

Queens Awards for export and

having become a key player in a number of additional markets, most recently with its new range of starter guitar kits. In addition, Cooper is now in the process of developing a number

for the music education market, whilst also readying a move into the pharmaceuticals sector, in what is without question his most diverse venture to date. Ultimately, it is his ability to combine heritage with a relevance to contemporary consumers that has not only made Orange the brand it is today, but has made Cooper one

“It is Cooper’s continued efforts to break new ground that have made Orange the brand it is today.”

London store in the 1960s


FEW MIXERS can boast a client list to rival that of Cenzo Townshend. Over the past two decades, he has mixed some of the most successful recording artists on the planet. Among them, U2, Florence and the Machine, Tom Jones, Nick Cave, Graham Coxon, Blur, Snow Patrol, New Order, Jamie T, Kaiser Chiefs, the list goes on.

He’s kept good company over the years on his side of the desk too, cutting his teeth alongside the likes of Alan Moulder, Flood and Mark Stent in the capacity of producer and engineer, before branching out on his own as a mixer.

Prior to becoming one of the industry’s most sought after studio

DJing, before pursuing a career away from the decks.

“I started DJing in Miami in the mid ‘80s. I was already DJing here, then I went on holiday and ended up staying for two years. After a while, I thought I ought to get a proper job so I applied to some studios. I ended up working in Trident Studios in the late ‘80s with people like Alan Moulder, Flood and Mark Stent.

“I then left and joined another studio where I met a producer called Ian Broudie and ended up recording his album in Belgium and working with him for about ten years after that, on albums for Northside, Terry Hall, The Lightening Seeds, The Wendys, The Wedding Present, The Birthday Party and The Fall, among others. The Fall I worked with a lot afterwards, and The Wedding Present.

“Ian then started doing more with The Lightening Seeds, so I moved down to London from Liverpool and worked with Stephen Street. I started specialising in mixing, with bands like Editors, Snow Patrol – we had a couple of big hits with them, including ‘Chasing Cars’. I also started doing a number of alternative/indie mixes for the likes of Late of the Pier, Klaxons, that kind of thing.”

After more than 20 years in the business, Townshend has amassed an impressive haul of mixing and

recording tools, having developed something of an obsession with vintage gear. He regularly frequents MI stores in search of new equipment and the proverbial hidden gem.

“It began with collecting guitar pedals and amps, and ended up with having two studios! I found that young bands we were working with back then weren’t able to have

into pedals, so by providing good

them and by providing interesting pedals we got them really creatively enthused.”

The shifting buying habits of consumers from high street to the web since the turn of the century aren’t lost on Townshend.

“The music shop on the high street is incredibly important; although you can buy things off the Internet, if you haven’t tried the

buy it. Unfortunately, a lot of people walk into a shop, try it and then buy £3 cheaper elsewhere. Hopefully things will change and people will start to add value to a shop that can give after-sale service and steer them in the right direction.

“Without them [MI stores] things would have been very different for me. We recorded all over the place

local music shops, whether it was

buy a tuner. You’d often end up

you’d come away from that shop with something. Now there’s less of that because everything is delivered to you; it’s a lot more clinical. It doesn’t have the same romance.”

Among the essential brands Townshend has come to rely upon throughout his career is Palmer.

products, he is quick to point out the central role the brand has come to play in his work.

“I’ve been using Palmer since the early ‘90s. A friend of mine who’s a guitar builder told me to try out this thing called a Speaker

Simulator, which to me was an alien concept; the only way to get a guitar sound is to put a microphone in front of a speaker. However, I ended up using them enormously, particularly when we were in the studio recording backing tracks. To get separation from the instruments I would plug the simulator – the PDI03 – between the guitarist’s amp and his speaker and while they were rehearsing they’d have

headphone balance for them. Then just before the take I’d go round and disconnect their speaker, because

– you can’t just take a speaker out

the circuit because it will blow up

a proper choke or something that takes the load and the Palmer did that very well. I’ve been running my HiWatts for ten years with these simulators and nothing has gone wrong – completely trustworthy.

“Half the time, when I would disconnect the speaker, the bands wouldn’t even notice. All I’ve given him is the sound of the Simulator in his headphones, so I can pull the speaker, have a silent room to record drums in and the guitar player doesn’t even realise. Also, for bass, they are amazing. If you’re at home and want to record a good bass and you want more than a DI, one of these is invaluable. Even in

it sounds better than a speaker, as you don’t get any of the artifacts of

INTERVIEW

In the mix

“The music shop on the high street is incredibly important. Without them, things would have been very different for me.”

BY DANIEL GUMBLE

Mixer and audio engineer, Cenzo Townshend, speaks to Daniel Gumble about gear, working with some of the biggest names in music and the importance of a healthy MI retail environment…

28 29 MIPro176 Artist Interview_final.indd 1 15/12/2014 12:10

the speaker crapping out, or if you want a clean bass sound without any distortion it’s amazing. It’s almost became a trademark for me.

“Another thing they’ve got is

vintage amp that’s built like a brick shithouse. It’s got an incredible reverb and I use it a lot just for that. Through a simulator I’ll then send stuff from Pro Tools to it; vocals, guitars, anything. I can either overdrive it for the guitars or just use it for the reverb – it’s clean, and obviously it’s valve so it introduces third harmonic distortion. I was amazed at how good it was.”

Townshend was recently

which he was previously unfamiliar but has since become a key part of his set-up.

“We were sent it to evaluate it and it was amazing, although it shouldn’t be amazing really, because with these bits of kit that you buy with a headphone output,

that’s involved – it’s as small as possible and creates as little heat as possible, whereas if you’ve got

externally you have a lot more room and generally it sounds ten times better. I had no idea as to the difference it can make; it really is quite an eye-opener. It’s not harsh and it can go incredibly loud without distorting or hurting your ears. I’d recommend it to anyone.

“They have another thing called a Line Driver that enables us to

send guitar signals through long distances without any loss. It’s a line drive booster.”

Palmer aside, he regularly calls upon a number of other staple components.

“I use Pro Tools every day and I have an HDX system; I use a Solid State Logic desk but I also use a lot of old Neve compressors and equalizers. I use a company called Cartec – Liam Carter from Cartec makes some great equalizers – valve and solid state. For reverbs I use a

school Lexicon reverbs.”With a penchant for vintage

gear, Townshend believes that a professional studio offers an

altogether different experience for musicians, as opposed to working solely from their laptops.

“Technically, it’s a different thing. I remember tape machines in the ‘80s would cost about £80,000,

now not even the biggest Pro Tools rig in the world would cost. In the ‘80s, Trident was charging around £1,200 per day, not because they were making a fortune but that’s what the gear cost.”

He is, however, keen to emphasise that great results can still be obtained outside of the conventional studio.

“You look at OK Computer by Radiohead. They rented a house in Bath and set up a studio in a

ballroom and a library and recorded. You can still make fantastic records without a professional studio, but the know how really helps.”

Through mixing such a diverse array of artists during his career, Townshend has become accustomed to working in variety of ways to suit the needs of the performer.

“It’s interesting, working with people like Mark E Smith. They know what’s expected and what they want.

“If you’re mic-ing up a kit and he thinks it sounds too posh, he’ll

He won’t know what they are or what they’re doing, he’ll just think there’re too many.

“I’ve been in a room with the guitarist, and he came up behind him with a mic boom stand and starts to hit the guitar while he’s playing, because in his opinion it was sounding too accomplished.

“Once he appeared behind the backing singers with a megaphone and started shouting at them during a take. You can get nervous in those situations, but it produces things that are different.”

With a raft of projects in the pipeline, it looks like 2015 will be another busy year for Townshend. Recent mixes for the likes of George Ezra, The Maccabees and Jamie T continue to illustrate both his versatility and widespread appeal. And with a new, high-end mixing facility almost complete, his reputation as one of the industry’s most in demand mixers looks set grow further still.

Townshend continues to rely on vintage, analogue gear in the studio

28 29 MIPro176 Artist Interview_final.indd 2 15/12/2014 12:10

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Hands on music

Exciting trends and developments, all sorts of instruments and equipment, plus thousands of musicians and music-lovers – Musikmesse in Frankfurt is the largest international trade fair for manufacturers and distributors of musical instruments, sheet music, hardware, software and accessories. Come and visit Musikmesse 2015 and discover over 95,000 square metres of exciting new ideas. A new feature at Musikmesse is the B2B area for retailers, offering a stylish and relaxed atmosphere for business meetings.

Find out more at:[email protected]. +44 (0) 14 83 48 39 83

CLASSICAL


DENNIS DRUMM, Managing director, JHS

ONCE ONE moves out of the starter arena, the classical guitar market is probably one of the most stable categories, which is a way of saying it’s become an important niche. Millions of young players start on the almost ubiquitous ‘three-quarter nylon strung guitar’. The journey those folks are starting out on shows that the starter market is a huge feeder for guitar playing generally. The market has suffered a little, perhaps from other ‘more exciting’

attention. Even the electric guitar is seen as ‘cooler’, which is a shame as

while the nylon strung guitar per se is a speciality, broken down into concert and

Drawing new players is crucial and some of the real drivers for this market are accessibility, availability and affordability. It seems that for some

of starter packs and the specialists, the classical guitar is somewhere between an afterthought and an irritation, which is a terrible shame. Classical guitar is heard in every musical style. With everyone looking for business, perhaps it’s time for guitar sellers to refresh their approach and shock customers by talking about classics to all the guitarists who won’t expect it!

LIZ WILKES, Marketing director, Stentor Music

AS A MANUFACTURER Stentor

to teachers and feedback from its customers. The general economic climate has been tough for retailers but the strings market remains stable, with 2014 being a good year for stringed orchestral instruments sales overall. Consumers may be watching their spending but they are choosing quality brands they can trust. We continually invest in all our Stentor models to ensure our high standards of quality, reliability and good tonality. Stentor violins, violas, cellos and basses are always in demand; classical instruments are now played in more different styles of music than ever before, in bands and in orchestras, so we are seeing our market continue to grow. We support many of our customers who run successful rental schemes and many children are still learning through small group lessons at school. Each year a new batch of young string

instrument. At Stentor we encourage and keep new players by offering a full range of instruments. We would like to encourage more

to get involved with teachers and music hubs. We are happy to support initiatives to create more musicians.

BRUCE PERRIN, Managing director, Barnes & Mullins

STUDENT INSTRUMENTS have seen a moderate increase, with mid

The market has faired very well overall, certainly when compared to certain other areas such as contemporary electric instruments. Growth of our Jose Ferrer classical guitar range continues year-on-year. It is priced well in the market but not really a ‘starter kit’. This is a misnomer for a classical guitar, as all you need is the guitar and a guitar bag. There are cheaper guitars available but as so often is the case, cheaper models do more harm than good. The garbage sold by some charity shops should labelled as a health hazard or taken away for kindling. It’s a shame that so many youngsters fall at

their ability. Such a large proportion of cheap guitars purchased at Christmas are under the bed by New Year’s Eve. That means the remaining minority take-up fuels the ongoing sales of trade-ups, strings, capos, cases etc. Imagine the increase in sales across the board if we could increase the overall

In an ideal world, we would get rid of the low quality starter products, ensure quality student instruments and watch the growth take care of itself.

Classical gasAs something of a niche market, it’s fair to say that the classical sector operates outside of the

of the classical market, MI Pro tracked down some of its leading brands, suppliers and retailers to

paint a clearer picture of how it’s coping with today’s conditions and what we can expect over the

next 12 months…

32 33 MiPro176 Feature Classical_final.indd 19 15/12/2014 20:31

CLASSICAL


CHRIS O’REILLYManaging director, Presto Classical

WE’VE DONE well over the past 12 months and turnover is up seven per cent on the previous year. We’ve had to work very hard for that business though, putting on special events and trade stands, and we’ve also taken a small margin hit in order to remain really attractively priced. Overall we’re happy, though.

I think the market is fairly robust. People have perhaps bought different models than they would have done before the recession, but equally I suspect some people have held off buying more expensive items, such as cars, so have kept behind more money to spend on music and musical instruments than they otherwise would have been able to do.

Digital pianos have been good, especially models at the lower end. Wind and brass are stable but orchestral strings are slightly down.

We sell a lot of instruments to children and adults early on in their playing journeys. We don’t tend to focus on kits, but instead prefer to cater our sales

customer’s needs. We avoid the very cheap end of the market.

It is crucial to attract new people to take up instruments. Traditionally we’ve relied on schools to help with this, but increasingly that’s not producing the number of players it used to. That’s why initiatives like Learn to Play day are so important. I think trying to spread the impact of Learn to Play Day beyond the one day would be great so people have more opportunities to see, hear and be inspired by music, and then want to emulate that.

JUSTIN WAGSTAFF, Commercial director, The Sound Post

THE BOWED string market has faired reasonably well, both in the last 12 months, as well as through the darkest days of the recession. As a company, The Sound Post has grown consistently for the last three years. We

geographical split in the market. Retailers in London and the South East have faired much better than those in the rest of the country. Instrument sales have faired well and we have noticed an increase in the

average value of orders placed with us. Sales of accessories, especially strings, are up, although top-end instruments have been slow but are starting to pick up.

The bulk of our instrument sales are in the starter-end bracket. The Primavera range continues to be popular with teachers and students alike.

Our intermediate instruments from Eastman Strings are always a popular next step up, and we have struggled to meet demand in one or two lines.

It is absolutely vital to attract new players. The future of music depends upon getting new musicians into strings.

With so many pressures on teaching in schools, we need to do everything that we can to help encourage music in schools.

“Instrument sales have faired well and we’ve noticed an increase in the value of orders.”

32 33 MiPro176 Feature Classical_final2.indd 20 16/12/2014 15:58

34 35 MIPro176_Barnes&Mullins_final.indd 1 16/12/2014 14:55

CERTAIN PEOPLE in the MI market are not really comfortable with the idea of being in the limelight, preferring to ‘let their products do the talking’. This can be dull in the extreme. Especially when their products have little to

for a bad interview experience. There’s nothing worse than having to drag information out of people who would rather be elsewhere.

Thank heavens then, for Stuart Spector. You know from the moment you meet him that there will be no such problems getting him to talk about..well…anything. His passion for his work and life in general comes rattling through abundantly in every sentence.

He has made his work his life and vice versa. And that’s probably the secret to his success, which started in 1973 when he made his

Speaking in his workshop in upstate New York, where he has granted us an audience, he tells MI Pro how it all got going: “Originally I was part of a Brooklyn woodworkers cooperative. A friend of mine, Billy Thomas, whose family came from Wales

woodworkers, taught me how to do woodwork. He was very proud that everybody in his family had

all those years. Woodworking machinery must be shown respect and we have a great safety record.

“He and I and some others were forming a woodworkers cooperative shop, which rented a 4,000 sq ft loft space in an old factory building in Brooklyn.

“One of the members of the group was Ned Steinberger, who Billy and I met when we went to look at some machinery. He asked to join our group and we found a 10 ft by 5 ft space for him in the

corner of the shop. He observed me building instruments and said ‘I bet I could design something’. About a week later he came back with the prototype of the NS bass. The curved body was part of his training in ergonomics, form and function and how it then reacts to the body.”

in any way a reaction to what was already on the market?

“No, it was completely original in terms of his concept and his experience.”

It was, of all people, rainforest-bothering, Geordie sexual

endurance specialist and sometime bass player, Sting who provided the brand’s breakthrough into the mainstream back in the eighties.

“A dealer in St Louis ordered a white neck-through bass to coincide with The Police tour; he knew when they came through town he was going to show it to them. And Dan Martin, who unfortunately has passed away, had a white limousine, which he drove himself and had bribed all the security guards at the St

Louis Arena. So when bands came through town, he would drive into the St Louis Arena during soundcheck, drive to the front of the stage, open the trunk, put out all these toys on the apron of the stage and go ‘OK guys, you’re halfway through the tour, you’ve made yourself some money, time to buy yourself some toys’. And he showed the white bass to Sting’s tech. He handed it to Sting who played it all through soundcheck and the show, handed it back to the techs and as the limo was leaving, Sting pointed to Dan and said ‘write that man a cheque.’”

From then on, save for some trademark disputes with Kramer in the ‘80s (but that’s another story), the brand has never looked back.

As well as its New York workshop, Spector instruments are also manufactured in the Czech Republic and South Korea. These ranges are distributed in the UK by Barnes & Mullins.

“They have a history of precision manufacturing in the Czech Republic. We also work with a wonderful factory in South Korea - World Musical Instruments.”

This year’s NAMM promises to be an interesting one for the

its sleeve with a new range of instruments made from reclaimed wood. There is even talk of moving into the acoustic guitar market.

“We’re researching carved top acoustic instruments. For years we’ve made some electric guitars and the challenge has been

schedule. But in this carved top thing, we will be making acoustic arch-top basses that can be played acoustically.”

Some 40 years after he started, it’s clear that Spector’s enthusiasm is undimmed and he’s not done trying new things either. And he’ll never be done talking. Amen to that.

Read an extended version of this interview on www.mi-pro.co.uk.

INTERVIEW

Touching bass

guitars on the market. Ronnie Dungan visited the Spector chief at his New York workshop to

34 35 MIPro176_Barnes&Mullins_final.indd 2 16/12/2014 14:55

Ad Template_Layout 1 10/12/2014 10:26 Page 1

EFFECTS PEDALSRETAIL ESSENTIALSMI PRO


FACTS & FIGURES

Power supply: 9V PP3 battery or optional PSUDelay time: up to 800msControls: Delay time, feedback and delay level

Housing: Die-cast metalDimensions: 80 x 130 x 55mmWeight: 620g

Contacts

Address: AVSL Group Ltd, Containerbase, Barton Dock Rd, Manchester, M41 7BQ, UKTel: 0845 270 2411Email: [email protected]: www.avslgroup.com

CHORD DL-50 DELAY PEDAL

Chord, part of the AVSL Group, is well established within the pro udio, AV and MI

markets. In recent years, the brand has branched out into a wide range of affordable musical instruments and accessories, and the selection continues to grow on a monthly basis.

The brand offers a variety of ranges of effects pedals, but the standout best sellers are by far the ‘50’ series of die-cast metal effects.

The range has been engineered to hark back

to the early days of stage-proof effects pedals, utilising discreet circuitry, analogue preamps and a sturdy die-cast housing. It is powered using a 9V battery or optional mains adaptor.

The DL-50 is designed to serve as a versatile delay effect pedal, offering users both echo and doubling effects. A number of vintage delay effects are also made possible, from rockabilly slap-back to the multi rhythmic pulse of U2’s Edge, as well as Brian May’s ‘Brighton Rock’ solo effect.

ALSO IN THE RANGE:

REVIEWS:

GUITAR INTERACTIVE:

4/5“With a warm, organic sound and decent build quality we can’t see why this humble delay pedal couldn’t become a mainstay of any well-rounded effects setup.”

DL-50 DELAY PEDAL RRP £34.99DS-50 DISTORTION PEDAL RRP £24.99OD-50 OVERDRIVE PEDAL RRP £34.99HM-50 HEAVY METAL PEDAL RRP £44.99MT-50 METAL DRIVER PEDAL RRP £28.99SD-50 SUPER DISTORTION PEDAL RRP £44.99CM-50 COMPRESSOR PEDAL RRP £24.99GE-50 GRAPHIC EQ PEDAL RRP £34.99PH-50 PHASER PEDAL RRP £26.99FL-50 FLANGER PEDAL RRP £26.99CH-50 CHORUS PEDAL RRP £26.99BCH-50 BASS CHORUS PEDAL RRP £44.99TU-50 PEDAL TUNER RPP £34.99RV-50 DIGITAL REVERB PEDAL RRP £74.99TR-50 TREMOLO PEDAL RRP £54.99OC-50 OCTAVE PEDAL RRP £49.99NG-50 NOISE GATE PEDAL RRP £44.99RVP-50 STEREO VOLUME PEDAL RRP £20.99

37 MiPro Recommended Chord RH_final.indd 35 15/12/2014 12:47

MiPro175_HOUSE ADVERT_temp.indd 4 20/11/2014 12:54

FACTS & FIGURES

RRP: £52.99Sound: Warm, vintage delay Control: Echo, feedback and time controls Bypass: True bypassPower: 9V DC power supply required Current Draw: 10mA Chassis: Compact, rugged metal Size: 46w x 94d x 50h

Designed by US electronics specialist, Howard Davis, the Xvive range

of micro-effects has enjoyed a great deal of success over the last few months, says the

tones aimed at offering guitarists a plethora of unique sounds.

The XV5 Delay pedal,

new range, has garnered acclaim on account of its warm, vintage delay sounds, which makes the product suitable for just about any style of music, as well as its competitive price tag.

Dedicated echo, feedback and time controls provide easy access to a myriad of classic delay and echo settings, from snappy slapback to ‘arena’ guitar solo sounds.

Its compact, rugged metal chassis renders it ready for the rigours of life on the road, and true bypass operation helps to keep the guitar tone preserved when not in use.

Compatible with the majority of nine-volt power supply units, the XV5 retails at £52.99.

ContactsAddress: John Hornby Skewes & Co. Ltd, Salem House, Parkinson Approach, Garforth, Leeds LS25 2HR, UKEmail: [email protected]: www.jhs.co.uk

We take a close look at some of the most prominent effects units available on the market for guitar and bass.

XVIVEXV5 DELAY PEDAL



ALSO IN THE RANGE:

XV1 CLASSIC ROCK RRP £46.99XV2 DISTORTION RRP £46.99XV3 METAL RRP £46.99XV4 FUZZ SCREAMER RRP £46.99XV6 PHASER KING RRP £46.99XV7 TUBE DRIVE RRP £46.99XV8 CHORUS VIBRATO RRP £49.99XV9 LEMON SQUEEZER COMPRESSOR RRP £49.99XV10 AMP LITONE (BOOST) RRP £49.99XV11 NOISE GATE RRP £49.99XV12 ABY MINI RRP £45.99XV13 MINI DI RRP £45.99XV15 TONE SHAPER EQUALISER RRP £47.99 XPT03 PEDAL TUNER RRP £32.99XW1 WAVE PHASER RRP £105XW2 OVERDRIVE FUZZ RRP £105XD1 MAXVERB RRP £59.99

39 MiPro176 Recommended - Xvive_final.indd 31 15/12/2014 20:45

FACTS & FIGURES

Trev Wilkinson is known in the guitar world for his guitar hardware and

pickups, which are designed to deliver optimised tonality and sound quality. His approach to building guitars, and his ability to think outside of every design box, is now presented in the Fret-King range of FX pedals.

With the emphasis set

has instilled his boutique ethos into the pedals. Each effect has been comprehensively researched and benchmarked against a collection of original vintage pedals and devices.

Meticulously and authentically voiced, Fret-King FX Pedals aim to deliver tones that users will be able to recognise straight out of the box.

The Fret-King FKKD Klassic Drive (£79.99) has been engineered to deliver a full, smooth low gain tone that can also be used to break your clean tone up, or to drive your valve amp at crucial moments.

The Klassic Drive is suitable for a range of genres, anything from classic rock rhythms all the way through to blues noodling and jazz chords.

MI PRO

RETAIL ESSENTIALSEFFECTS PEDALS


ContactsAddress: John Hornby Skewes & Co. Ltd, Salem House, Parkinson Approach, Garforth, Leeds LS25 2HR, UKEmail: [email protected] Web: www.jhs.co.uk

RRP: £79.99Inputs: 2On/Off: Foot switchableLED: Effects On/OffCasing: Die cast aluminiumBattery: 9V includedAdapter: Not suppliedControls: Gain, Tone, Level

FRET-KING KLASSIC DRIVE PEDAL

ALSO IN THE RANGE:FKCB CLEAN BOOST RRP £59.99FKDXXX DISTORTION XXX RRP £79.99FKLD LINE DOCTOR RRP £59.99FKPB POWER BOOST RRP £59.99FKWW CLASSIC WAH RRP £89.99

REVIEWS:

GUITARIST:

4.5/5Guitarist Choice Award

GUITAR INTERACTIVE:

4.5/5MUSIC RADAR:

4.5/5

40 MI Pro Recommended Fret-King_final.indd 40 15/12/2014 12:22



Designed to provide warm, rich tones, the Chorusaurus utilises

analogue, bucket-brigade technology to deliver optimised, organic chorusing. Housed within a robust metal casing, it has been carefully crafted

York workshops. Unlike many other

bass chorus pedals, the Chorusaurus aims to give bassists unparalleled control of their tone with an intuitive four-knob

the ratio of dry and wet signals, with unique ‘over 50 per cent wet’ settings

WIDTH controls provide maximum tonal sculpting.

Users can dial in subtle swirling textures, extreme chorusing or anything in between. It has also been engineered to be incredibly quiet with minimal noise coming from its circuitry.

The Aguilar

dedicated to using superior engineering processes to offer the best possible options for bass players.

By designing and manufacturing items such as heads, cabinets, preamps, pickups and effects pedals, the

contributes to a great many aspects of the sound of the bass guitar.

Aguilar approaches every product that they manufacture with what it describes as ‘real world’ musical understanding.

The APCH Chorusaurus is now available from Barnes & Mullins now with an RRP of £215.00

ContactsAddress: Grays Inn House, Unit 14, Mile Oak Industrial Estate, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 8GATel: 01691 668310Web: http://bandm.co.uk/ Email: [email protected]

AGUILAR CHORUSAURUS

ALSO IN THE RANGE:

TLC COMPRESSOR OCTAMIZER OCTAVE PEDAL FILTER TWIN PEDAL AGRO BASS OVERDRIVE TONE HAMMER PREAMP / DI BOX

FACTS & FIGURES

RRP: £215 Controls: Blend, Rate, Intensity, WidthCasing: Robust metal

41 MiPro176 Recommended Aguila_final.indd 34 15/12/2014 20:39

FACTS & FIGUREST

MI PRO

RETAIL ESSENTIALSEFFECTS PEDALS


ContactsAddress: 4 Blackwell Drive, Springwood Industrial Estate, Braintree, Essex. CM7 2QJWeb: www.rosetti.co.ukTel: 01376 550033Email: [email protected]

Our focus on the effects pedals market continues with a look at one of Seymour Duncan’s most prominent models.

RRP: £159 inc. VATDistortion Circuitry: Glass diode, back-to-back stack. Bypass: True bypass – unimpeded path from input to outputGain Control Range: 8dB to 36dB.EQ Centre Frequencies:• Bass - 90 Hz +/- 11dB• Mid - 750 Hz +/- 11dB• Treble - 2.1 kHz +/- 12dBPower: 9V battery or external 9 to 18V Regulated DC Adapter, centre negative – so that the most common adaptors can be usedCurrent consumption: 4.5mADimensions: 2.61” X 4.90” X 1.45”Top mounted jacksDesigned and assembled in Santa Barbara, CaliforniaSupplied with: Velcro and rubber pads. Red stickers for favourite settings

SEYMOUR DUNCAN805 OVERDRIVE

REVIEWS

GUITARIST:

4.5/5GUITAR & BASS MAGAZINE:

88%ALSO IN THE RANGE:DIRTY DEED DISTORTION RRP £139.95VAPOR TRAIL ANALOGUE DELAY RRP £149.95PICKUP BOOSTER RRP £109.95SHAPE SHIFTER STEREO TREMOLO RRP £219.95VISE GRIP COMPRESSOR RRP £179.95

42 MIPro176 Recommended_seymour_final.indd 40 15/12/2014 12:42



FACTS & FIGURES

RRP: £37.95LED illuminated Dial: Indicates when the pedal is onCompact Dimensions: 93mm x 38mm x 32mmCasing: Tough zinc alloy outer casingControls: Level, Delay, Repeat and Time Impedance: 500k Input - 10k OutputPower: 9V via AC Adaptor Only (40mA) Weight: 260g

The inspiration behind Movall comes from a group of music industry

professionals with a common aim to create new and interesting, high quality effects pedals at affordable prices. Established for just one year, Movall has an experienced team of engineers on board with years of music industry experience between them.

The Movall Centipede is a new pedal from the Mini-Demon series and is a classic analogue delay in a tiny package - the pedal itself is only 93 x 38 x 32mm and weighs just 260g. The Centipede requires a live 9V supply. Most pedal board power supplies will suit, and a dedicated power supply is also available.

The Centipede is designed to offer total control over the classic analogue delay functions, such as level, repeat and delay time, which makes it suitable for creating psychedelic tones, atmospheric soundscapes and a gentle reverb.

In common with all pedals from Movall’s Mini-Demon series, The Centipede shares a set of key features, such as compact design, tough zinc-alloy casing, true bypass, LED illuminated control knob, optimised tone and an affordable price tag.

ContactsAddress: Rosetti, 4 Blackwell Drive, Springwood Industrial Estate, Braintree, Essex, CM7 2QJWeb: www.rosetti.co.ukTel: 01376 550033

The Centipede delay unit marks the latest addition to the company’s Mini-Demon range of effects pedals

MOVALL CENTIPEDE ANALOGUE DELAY PEDAL

ALSO IN THE RANGE:

SCORPION: HIGH GAIN DISTORTION PEDAL RRP £37.95HORNET: DYNAMIC OVERDRIVE PEDAL RRP £37.95FIREFLY: WARM OVERDRIVE PEDAL RRP £37.95CENTIPEDE: ANALOGUE DELAY PEDAL RRP £37.95BUSY BEE: PREAMP BOOST PEDAL RRP £37.95BLACK WIDOW: ULTIMATE OVERDRIVE PEDAL RRP £37.95VANGOLEM: CLASSIC PHASE PEDAL RRP £39.95CHORAL MERMAID: CLASSIC CHORUS PEDAL RRP £39.95OCTOPUZZ: CRAZY FUZZ PEDAL RRP £37.95MINOTAUR: LEGENDARY OVERDRIVE RRP £39.95ICE YETI: RETRO DISTORTION PEDAL RRP £37.95PLEXITROLL: HIGH GAIN DISTORTION PEDAL RRP £37.95

43 MiPro176 Recommended_movall_final.indd 34 16/12/2014 12:42

44 MIPro176.indd 1 16/12/2014 12:53

P49

Mystery shopper P50

New gear P53 RETAIL

FIVE SECOND FACTS

The magic numbers in MI that caught our eye this month...

3 Peavey has launched three new amp models in the ReValver Amp Store 30 UK group The

Travelling Band had £30K’s worth of gear stolen last month

Roland is offering extended warranty on a selection of its digital pianos, effective immediately 10 has introduced two

new acoustic amps- the A40 and the A1000

Sax, wind and brass superstore to open in 2015


A NEW 10,000 sq ft brass and woodwind superstore is set to open its doors in 2015.

Located on London’s Hampstead Road, the new store, named SaxWindBrass.london, will be shared by Sax.co.uk, All Flutes Plus and brass specialist Phil Parker.

The move was instigated by Sax.co.uk, following its recent relocation from Denmark Street ahead of its impending demolition as part of the controversial Crossrail development. Having previously paid rental fees below the existing

unable to afford current rental costs, which it would have been forced to pay had it stayed put.

Speaking to MI Pro, Sax.co.uk director, Phill Straker, said: “We are sad to be leaving Denmark Street, but ours is the only shop to be demolished as part of the Crossrail development and the alternatives offered were smaller and far more expensive, so I do worry about the long term future of Denmark St. I keep hearing that the landlords want to retain the music dealers but I fear that in the long-term market forces will prevail and rents will be beyond the reach of the MI industry. It’s a fabulous development that will attract thousands of shoppers and that will make surrounding properties more desirable and even more expensive.

“Recognising that our competition is not the music

shop down the road but London’s impressive computer, gaming, fashion and bike superstores, we

wanted to offer brass and woodwind buyers a similar retail experience.”

Having weighed up his options,

found an ideal new home.“After an extensive search

we found a huge ex-furniture showroom less than a mile from where we are now but at almost 10,000 sq.ft it was just far too big. I contacted two other leading retailers who could each compliment the others’ business .”

The other two brands in question are All Flutes Plus and Phil Parker’s.

and clarinet showroom called The Vibe, while the latter is relocating from its current Marylebone

showroom in Crawford St.Phil Parker, was recently

acquired by WT Music, which owns Buckinghamshire-based Prozone Music. Commenting on the move, WT Music coordinator, Tom Watson, said: “The chance to take Phil Parker into this luxurious centre is one we jumped at. Customers will experience the same stock and expert staff but in a larger, more comfortable environment.”

The companies will remain independent, but will share the centre’s facilities, including 11 sound proof studios, seven practice rooms, lounge area and workshops.

“Our competition is not the music shop down the road but London’s impressive computer, gaming, fashion and bike superstores.”

The new London superstore will be occupied by Sax.co.uk, All Flutes Plus and brass specialist Phil Parker

2

London premises to be shared by Sax.co.uk, All Flutes Plus and Phil Parker

45 MiPro176 Retail Cover_final.indd 43 15/12/2014 20:37

3212 NR Music Week print ad V4 PRINT indd 1 19/11/2013 12:03

24 MiPro165_v2_Layout 1 29/01/2014 16:01 Page 1

IT ALL STARTED with some large JBL speakers that we were selling for a customer. The phone rang and a guy calling himself Chris wanted to buy them over the phone, stating that he would be paying with a credit card and that he would organise collection.

All went smoothly. The payment of £400 was made and the speakers were subsequently taken.

A couple of days later he phoned back again, this time about four Wharfedale speakers that we also had in stock. He again paid £500 via credit card for them and had them collected.

Another day goes by and he calls again to order a

microphones and cables, totalling roughly £1,200.

We asked him politely

what all these purchases were for, as he was spending a fair bit of money on PA gear. He said that it was

for a church that he was involved in, and we left it at that.

The fourth time he called we took another £1,100 for speakers, but held them back while we did a little research.

It seems that our good customer was committing

serious fraud by using the details of other people’s credit cards. He would have the goods delivered to the addresses linked with the card account, then at the last minute pay the courier to drop off the goods at a different but nearby address.

We had a call from a guy from another guitar shop who had the same guy pull the same stroke on him for £5,000. All the details matched.

If we have to pay back the money that was originally paid, it will hurt us badly. We have been informed by the other victims that this will most probably be the case, yet there seems to be absolutely no protection for sellers at all.

This is why I am bringing this matter to light; to warn you of selling ‘customer not

present’ goods via debit/credit card.

If you want to process a transaction where the customer wishes to pay via the phone, get them to pay

you via PayPal as a ‘Gift’ payment.

It seems that either this way or cash are the only safe ways to trade these days.

Credit and debit card payments can come with a sting in the tail.

The perils of selling ‘customer not present’ goods via credit card…

“If we have to pay back the money that was originally paid, it’ll hurt us badly. We’ve been told by other victims this will likely be the case.”

SECRET DEALER

ROLAND HAS announced a substantial increase in the length of warranty cover provided on select models across its roster of digital pianos. All current models and colour variations in the HP/HPi and LX series of digital pianos will now come with ten-year warranty protecting against failure from faulty manufacture. The new warranty is effective immediately and backdated to the beginning of the year.

Sean Montgomery, Roland’s European product manager for pianos, explained why it makes sense to offer an extended warranty period: “A lot can happen in a decade. You could go from being a complete beginner to an accomplished pianist in that

time. Or if you bought for your children, you’ll want to make sure your chosen piano will keep them playing for many years to come.

“Whatever musical path you choose, it’s reassuring to know that your Roland digital piano will be

with you every step of the way – today, tomorrow and for years to come.”

In order to activate the warranty, new owners need to register their piano with Roland UK, providing

the serial number and name of the retailer from which it was bought. Once registered, the ten-year warranty cover will begin automatically.

Existing owners can also take advantage of the upgraded warranty, as the cover is offered retrospectively on pianos sold on or after January 1st 2014.

The Roland pianos within the ten year warranty programme are as follows:• HP-504 (rosewood and contemporary black)• HP-506 (rosewood, contemporary black and polished ebony)• HP-508 (rosewood, contemporary black and polished ebony)• HPi-50e (rosewood)• LX-15e (polished white and polished ebony)

Roland announces ten-year warranty on HP and LX series digital pianos

TH

ERETAIL ANALYSIS

JANUARY 2015 - MIPRO 47

“Whatever musical path you choose, it’s reassuring to know that your Roland digital piano will be with you every step of the way - today, tomorrow and for years to come.”

47 MiPro176 Retail_Secret Dealer_final.indd 1 15/12/2014 20:42

FREEHOLD PROPERTY INVESTMENT £220,000 o.n.o.

SHOP WITH SELF CONTAINED FLAT OVER IN BUSY TOWN CENTRE PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT. THE SHOP IS FULLY FITTED WITH ‘TEGOMETAL’ AND ‘STRING SWING’ SLATWALL SYSTEMS. WRITE TO:Swade Music, 3 Roman Square, Sittingbourne ME10 4BJ or email: [email protected]

48 MIPro176_v1.indd 1 16/12/2014 14:33

GUITAR VILLAGE, winner of this year’s MIA award for Best Presented Independent Retailer, actually started life not in the UK, but in Frankston, Australia in 1977 instead.

Owner Derek Eyre-Walker moved back to the UK in 1987 after playing in multiple bands and started Guitar Village in Farnham, Surrey. He opened a tiny rented shop with just 26 guitars in the mid-to-high-end price bracket.

He takes up the story: “A couple of years later I purchased two 16th Century cottages across the road from the original shop. The buildings were full of character and the ideal foundation to build on. In 2006 I purchased the adjoining Wealden house, which after a dendrochronology test dates all the way back to 1467, one of the oldest buildings in Farnham. The buildings were all sympathetically restored with exposed beams,

features creating a very

homey ambience for our customers. Guitar Village now comprises of some 5,000 square feet allowing us to have 15 different unique display rooms.”

The shop has ten full-time members of staff; all of which are enthusiastic guitar players with a wealth of knowledge behind them.

“The local competition is very healthy and buoyant,” adds Eyre-Walker, “with a few nice shops around. Farnham is an old market town with many picturesque surrounding villages with an honest countryside feel yet within an hour from London. People come from far and wide for the shopping experience of not only visiting an extremely unique, charming, ancient and homely building but also for the vast array of over 1,200 mid-to-high-end guitars we have here.

“Our stock ranges from brand new instruments, second hand guitars, very rare and collectible vintage items and very limited runs. We have dealt with major guitar brands for decades,

like Gibson, Fender, PRS, Martin, Taylor and Lowden to name a few. We also deal with household names on a daily basis, which keeps us on our toes.

“Most recently, we have sold guitars to a number

including the likes of Kings of Leon, Stereophonics and Noel Gallagher.

“We also give in-depth support to sustain and grow the live music/teaching scene.”

Testament to the effort the team put into the presentation and experience of the store (hence the award), Eyre-Walker feels the business is forging ahead, with the online offering further augmenting sales.

“Business is going from strength to strength, due to our relentless stocking and adding to an already vast range of guitars. Our

online presence means that we are shipping globally on a daily basis. We only close four days a year, which gives the guitar player every opportunity to buy what they need, whether it is a set of strings or a Custom Shop Gibson Les Paul.

“Customer service is extremely important to us and we do our utmost in order to ensure 100 per cent customer satisfaction.

“All of this helps us to succeed in our quest to be the Holy Grail of traditional specialist guitar shops, for which we were recently awarded the MIA award, and we are very proud of it.”

As is often the key with any business, enthusiasm for the products is the secret to the company’s continued progress, Eyre-Walker concludes.

“We feel that the most important ingredient is having a passion for all things guitar, attention to detail and being driven to help customers get exactly what they are after by putting in the effort and going the extra mile.”

Address: Guitar Village, 80-82 West Street, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7ENTelephone: 01252 726821

Meet the Guitar Village team

“Business is going from strength to strength due to our relentless stocking and adding to an already vast range of guitars.”


RETAIL PROFILE

Guitar Village, FarnhamWhile some bricks and mortar dealerships have struggled to cope in today’s market, Guitar Village has managed not only to keep its head above water but also grow its business. Ronnie Dungan paid owner Derek Eyre-Walker a

49 MiPro176 Retail Profile_final.indd 53 16/12/2014 12:44


STELLAR STREETREVISITED Our man of mystery presents part two of his report on London’s Denmark Street…

Musicroom

Hanks Guitar Shop

MYSTERY SHOPPER

A DIFFERENT experience to other stores on Denmark Street, Musicroom is a large chain that boasts stores right across the UK. As such, upon entering the store, it was immediately noticeable that this was the case. It was very open and light with the products presented in a methodical manner. The sheer range of the sheet music collection was impressive, with a range of genres available for musicians of all

abilities, all laid out and categorised in a manner that made browsing a straightforward experience. I also took note of the range of instruments they had on offer; there was a comparatively limited selection of guitars compared to what I found in other specialist stores on the street. However, there were other products, such as pianos and keyboards among other items on display, demonstrating that Musicroom caters

to a variety of customers.As with a number of

locations on Denmark Street, I was offered help almost as soon as I entered the shop. Upon hearing my budget, the member of staff was quick to show the price ranges of the guitars that they had on offer in store and was happy to point out that there may be more choice in other shops. Despite this, he demonstrated a great deal of knowledge and was able to show me a variety of brands, proving to be extremely helpful on my search.

A SMALLBar Club alongside Macaris, Hanks is another specialist, independent guitar store. Despite having a comparitively small shop window to display stock compared to other stores in the area, it is able to show off a number of items to attract passers by into the shop. Though not the largest location, it is still able to play host to a range of products. Unfortunately, this leads to a slightly cluttered feel in parts of the store.

Despite this, the staff made the experience a pleasant one. The enthusiasm and knowledge demonstrated made the whole process incredibly straightforward

While small and a little dark and cluttered, the staff made this store both welcoming and interesting.

RATING 3/5

A pleasant location to shop with a wide variety of products. All in all, a good place to visit for musicians of all standards.

RATING 4/5

and they seemed to want to help me

rather than seeking to push more expensive items on me. Eventually pointing me at a Fender CD-60, I was then told about some of the offers that Hanks offers alongside any guitar purchase, such as a reduction in the price of a protective guitar case and tuning aids, for example.

50 51 MiPro176 Mystery Shopper_final.indd 1 15/12/2014 12:43


Relentless

London’s Denmark Street remains a hotbed of MI retail activity.

CONCLUSION

MYSTERY SHOPPER

Westside MI

A NEAT and professional establishment, Westside MI immediately struck me as a place that would draw in guitar players of all ages and abilities. On the

of acoustic guitars, which was what I was looking for, along with an impressive collection of straps among

contains a dedicated bass room, as

well as a selection of electric options among other things.

The staff were quick to help and took me straight to the acoustic guitar range to show me a number of options, sticking strictly to my budget. They never once tried to push any products outside my range on me and were enthusiastic about what they had on offer, showing a range of brands. Looking at a couple of Francisco Domingo models, they then went on to explain the

A RELATIVELY new store, this shop represents a partnership between Red Dog Music and the energy drink brand Relentless. Upon entering the shop, it was clear to see that there was a distinct theme of music performance, with the walls covered in images of

performers and products, as well as the offer of free

samples of relentless. Mainly specialising

in the more ‘techy’ side of the music industry,

Relentless stocks a number of smaller keyboards, as well

THE SECOND part of my trip to Denmark Street proved just

expect from such an iconic MI retail location, each store had its own identity and a great deal of character. A high standard across the board. The highlight would have to be Westside MI. Outside of my comfort zone musically, they were able to bring even a novice like me up to speed and provide information on everything I was looking for and even I was able to tell the store boasted

impressive products. However, while the helpful

nature of the Westside MI staff did stand out, it seems to be a common feature in the stores on Denmark Street. In their own way, each store has staff that knows their trade well and are more than happy to share their knowledge with customers in a polite and helpful manner, sometimes even going that step further and giving demonstrations to non-players.

It’s worth noting that on my visit to Relentless I fear I missed

out on a number of the unique features that the store offers, due to the time that I visited, making it harder to look past the comparative lack of stock on offer. However, I will certainly be keeping an eye out for any future events and launches that will be hosted there with interest.

In summary, whether a novice or an experienced musician, I recommend paying Denmark Street a visit. It’s a pleasant experience, even if you only intend to browse and not make a purchase on the day.

as an assortment of studio and DJ equipment. The store is also intended to play host to live events and workshops, as well as exclusive Relentless themed products, such as Relentless branded guitars.

I found the staff there incredibly helpful, quick to point out that, at the time that I visited, there would be a greater selection of products at the Red Dog store located on Bromwell Road in London. However, in store, they had a system that allowed me to browse a wider range of products online. All in all, the staff made my visit an enjoyable one.

An interesting and unique experience. The store caters for a great many needs and makes up for

any stock based limitations via the in-store online ordering system.

RATING 4/5 A great shop for guitarists new and old; well laid out and chock full of stock. The knowledgeable and informative staff makes browsing an easy and pleasant experience.

instruments gives a relaxed vibe.

RATING 5/5

difference between the different materials used in the making of the guitars, as well as the different

variations in price. I left the store with contact details, as well as the models I had looked at written down for me to make a return visit easier, as well as a greater understanding of the brands I looked at over the course of my visit.

50 51 MiPro176 Mystery Shopper_final.indd 2 15/12/2014 12:44

SoftwareBased on Max/Msp the new software makes the most of the highly developed Joystick F.L.Y 5 by Madcatz, converted to do very complex manipulation in the traditional and modern musical fi eld. All you can do with the traditional instruments and much more is lying in your hand and arm. It requires the same physical and mental effort-but at the beginning it can be learnt more easily and always stays in tune.

What you can do:The three elements build a unit and make up the “instrument”This is a new way to play physically (two axes, turning moving the levers and pressing a lot of functional buttons).It is for children, disabled people, musicians and elderly people.Now everybody can play an instrument.

Compatibility:The software is for Mac (preferable)or Windows.There are different modelsmodel1 is the standard, just sine wavesmodel2 is similar, but enhanced to play all four main waves : sine, triangle,square, saw with changeable parameters of the correspondent wave shapes.model3 can play all midi devices.model4 is a program to play live sample processing

LAPTOP MUSIC STICKA real innovation in the digital instrument fi eld

Interest at Frankfurt Musikmesse 2014“Cool” China Music Shanghai 2014

“Hot” pre-Frankfurt Musikmesse 2015

Playing music with a joystick means active control of a laptop. The computer is then at your hand to play songs, a range of tunes and melodic lines with different levels of ability of the instrumentalist.

Joystick and software can be bought at amazon.co.uk indiviually or both together for £49 from

www.forumliverpool.net email: [email protected]

forum_ad_v1.indd 1 12/12/2014 14:11

Making a livingLAST MONTH GuitarGuitar set a new precedent for

to adopt the Living Wage scheme – a government-backed initiative that is aimed providing greater security for workers earning the minimum wage. The scheme sees employers pay staff the ‘living wage’ as opposed to the minimum wage – the

increased to £7.85 per hour (or £9.15 in London) by GuitarGuitar under the policy, although it is ultimately up to the employer as to whether they pay the full living wage or something in between. Of course, there are some that might balk at the suggestion of paying their staff above the minimum

those are among the industry’s more shortsighted businesses. Anyone who can’t see the value of a more

secure work force could well suffer as a result. Aside from the fact that pretty much anyone earning minimum wage will be on the lookout for better pay

elsewhere, it’s likely that those who are taking home minimum pay will feel demotivated and under appreciated. We are

fortunate to be part of an industry in which the

in which those working behind the tills may well harbour long-term goals within that business. How many other high street businesses can say that? Furthermore, it is with these people that the future

is vital that high street stores offer the absolute best when it comes to customer support and an optimum in-store experience; something that’s highly unlikely if the staff inside feel under-valued or are constantly on the lookout for a wage that will actually put food on the table.

GuitarGuitar’s footsteps and get involved with the Living Wage scheme over the coming weeks and

as a result.

DANIEL GUMBLE,

COMMENT

“Those who can’t see the value of a more motivated workforce are surely a little short-sighted.”

JANUARY 2015 - MIPRO 53

GEARnew

FOCUSRITE’S Scarlett Solo Studio Pack is aimed at those new to recording in the studio

PAGE 55

LANEY has built upon its product offering with the

PAGE 54

ICONIC SOUND has created

optical analogue jack-to-jack instrument cable

PAGE 54

53 MiPro176 New Gear Comment_final.indd 53 16/12/2014 14:42


RRP: From £269.99

SPECIFICATIONS:

RRP: TBC

SPECIFICATIONS

RRP: £299

SPECIFICATIONS:

4.

RRP: £129.99.

SPECIFICATIONS:

www.udggear.com

UDG

PRODUCTS

NEW GEAR1

5 6

2

54 55 MiPro176 New Gear_final.indd 50 15/12/2014 12:20


RRP: £149.99

SPECIFICATIONS:

http://www.focusrite.com/

RRP: £119.99

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RRP: £99

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RRP: £129.99

SPECIFICATIONS:

http://www.gatorcases.com/

5. Focusrite

6. 7. Gator Cases

PRODUCTS

7

3 4

8

54 55 MiPro176 New Gear_final.indd 51 15/12/2014 12:20

Yamaha teams up with Disney to spread some musical Christmas cheer, our all-new Musical History Tour kicks off with JHS’s Gav Coulson and we have more from our MIRTAS apprentices…

BACKLINE

NOT REALLY a single instrument but an actual orchestra. Be on the lookout, however, for anyone who fancies becoming a new member. Known in Europe as Das erste Wiener Gemüseorchester or The First Vienna Vegetable Orchestra, the orchestra is an Austrian one-of-a-kind musical group performing on instruments made up entirely of fresh vegetables.The Vegetable Orchestra was founded in 1998, and

consists of 11 musicians, a sound engineer, a video artist and, of course, a cook. Based in Vienna, the Vegetable Orchestra plays concerts in Europe and Asia, even playing in large philharmonic orchestra halls. Instead of guitars and drums, the orchestra plays Cuke-o-phones, radish-

pumpkin basses, leek violins, and other freshly made instruments. The orchestra blows carved-out carrots, taps

turnips, claps with eggplant cymbals, twangs on rhubarb

and greens, all in the creation of an experimental sound. There are no musical boundaries for the Vegetable Orchestra. The most diverse music styles fuse here - contemporary music, beat-oriented House tracks, experimental Electronic, Free Jazz, Noise, Dub, Clicks’n’Cuts - the scope of the ensemble expands consistently, determined only by their creativity.

THE VEGETABLE ORCHESTRADon’t get caught out by that enquiry for something really specialist...

WE COULD ORDER IT IN…

Yamaha hosts Frozen sing-alongs IN THE RUN-UP to Christmas, Yamaha joined forces with The Walt Disney Company to host a number of Frozen sing-along sessions across the UK. Hitting over 15 retail locations up and down the country, young people were encouraged to have a go at performing the Frozen hit song ‘Let it Go’ on a specially created Frozen piano. Yamaha’s Richard Ashby said: “We are thrilled to have teamed up with The Walt Disney Company to encourage new music makers, already we have seen thousands of children and, equally importantly their parents. Our key message of ‘Having A Go’ is having a huge impact, and this tour experience provides powerful evidence that most people would love to get involved in making music provided the pathway is fun and exciting.”

A MONTH IN THE WORLD OF MI


56 57 MiPro176 Backline_final.indd 56 16/12/2014 16:26

THE APPRENTICES

Tell us a little about yourself.I am 19 years old and from Whitwick, Leicestershire. I have completed my

Apprenticeship scheme at Intasound in Leicester, and have recently been approved to progress into a secondary year of study.

How did you come to be working at Intasound?Working in the music industry is something I have always wanted to do. I have studied music and music technology for years through school as well as during any spare time. This resulted in me achieving

and later two A-Levels in Music and Music Technology during sixth form at Ashby

to apply for University, I was advised to take a look at an apprenticeships website. Funnily enough, Intasound wasn’t originally advertised, but after uploading my CV I received an email telling me my application had been sent to them. I got the call two months later, had a short but successful interview, and started the following Monday.

What do you most enjoy about your placement? The most enjoyable aspect of the apprenticeship is

atmosphere. Intasound is a family run business founded by Malcolm Wright, which has now been passed down to his two sons, Alex and Lloyd. In my view they treat all staff (including myself) as family.

What do you hope to gain from the apprenticeship? I have already gained a considerable amount of knowledge and skills in the musical retail environment, particularly in relation to products, repairs and customer service. I hope to progress these skills and further expand my knowledge of all products that I am selling. In order to do this, I need to gain more

experience within the store. I would like to stay on at Intasound to pursue a career in the music industry upon the completion of my apprenticeship.

What have been some of your challenges along the way? As every other member of staff at Intasound knows how to provide great customer service with extensive product knowledge, I would say that my hardest challenge has been to ensure that I meet this high standard. As I had no previous customer service experience before starting the apprenticeship, I knew this would be tough to achieve, but I was determined to prove myself to the team. Throughout the past year, I feel I have progressed consistently and successfully, now making me a valuable employee.

What have been your greatest achievements while on the programme?

with a pass has been my greatest achievement so far. This process has kick started me into my career within the music industry.

Would you recommend this apprenticeship to others?

recommend the scheme to anyone who is interested in a career within music retail. I have gained a considerable amount of knowledge and skills that can be effectively used within the workplace. I feel

more than worth the hard work.

What do you play?Mainly guitar, but I also play bass, sing (allegedly) and some keyboards.

Any good?Ha ha, every musician hates to be asked that question - say yes and your a big headed pr*ck, say no and get dismissed out of hand. I’m

and thats where they found me!

Preferred musical style?Like all sorts of stuff but I guess I’ll go with the old faithful ‘rock’

Are you gigging right now?Yep, in my own band, the imaginatively titled Gav Coulson Group, a classic rock band called Doghouse, and also with a bunch of guys called

What bands have you been in?Nothing famous - but I have played everything from country to reggae to classic rock ‘n’ roll.

Have you ever troubled the charts at all?Ha, no. Was signed for a short time and have contributed to a few CD releases. I have been lucky enough to be asked to play on the latest release from Paul Brett’s

Humberside-based singer/songwriter Carrie Martin and her new CD What If this year.

What has been your greatest success?Doing the job I do now

validated the years of practicing to be recognised as competent enough to demo our various guitar, amp and effects brands.

Best/biggest gig ever played?

Bradford supporting

have been the biggest -

a real eye-opener as you get mobbed. But I have a great little venue in my

called the Bull and Fairhouse and we always have a cracking gig there.

Roll up, roll up to discover the musical chops of those in and around the industry. Dodgy experiments in jazz/punk fusion?

the chart? They’re all out there…

“Being able to demo our various brands kind of validated the years of practicing.”

“Working in the music industry is something I have always wanted to do and I’ve tailored my studies towards this.”

Adam Tarleton, Intasound Music, Leicestershire

SEND US STUFF>> THIS STUFF DOESN’T come out of thin air, you know. We make most of it up, to be honest. But we would like our lovely readers to get involved. Email: [email protected]


GAV COULSON,JHS PRODUCT SPECIALIST

56 57 MiPro176 Backline_final.indd 57 16/12/2014 15:55

MI PIONEERS: BOB MOOG

Also on the way...

FEATURES LISTUPCOMING

Enquiries to: MI Pro, NewBay Media, Saxon House 6a St. Andrew Street, Hertford SG14 1JA.

Tel: 01992 535646 (Editorial) Tel: 01992 535647 (Advertising) Fax: 01992 535648

MIPRO is a member of the PPA

ISSN 1750-4198

Copyright © 2014 NewBay MediaPrinted by Pensord, Tram Road, Pontllanfraith, NP12 2YA

The international monthly magazine for music instrument professionals and everyone in the MI business

MI Pro has a monthly circulation of well over 6,000. It is distributed in the UK and internationally to MI retailers, industry professionals and carefully selected pro audio executives and resellers.

UK: £50 Europe: £60 Rest of World: £90

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Enquiries: [email protected]: 01580 883 848

Charges cover 12 issues

MI PRO is published 12 times a yearEditor at LargeRonnie [email protected]

EditorDaniel [email protected]

Account ManagerKarma [email protected]

Head of Design and ProductionKelly Sambridge [email protected]

Production ExecutiveElizabeth [email protected]

PublisherDarrell [email protected]

Marketing & CirculationCurwood [email protected]

© NewBay Media 2014All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without the express prior written consent of the publisher. The contents of MiPro are subject to reproduction in information storage and retrieval systems. Printed by Pensord, Tram Road, Pontllanfraith, NP12 2YA

FORWARD FEATURES


PIANOS/KEYBOARDSOur Retail Essentials feature focuses on the piano and keyboard market.

March 2015

MI PRO RETAIL ESSENTIALS: ELECTRIC GUITARS

FEBRUARY’S MI PRO Retail Essentials section shines a spotlight on the electric guitar market, featuring everything from established classics to brand new lines. For more information and to get involved with this special feature, please contact Karma Bertelsen on [email protected] or 020 7226 7246.

ONCE AGAIN we celebrate the work of one of the musical instrument

This month, we focus on synthesizer pioneer Bob Moog.

SPECIAL FOCUS: DRUMS AND PERCUSSIONWe speak with some of the market’s foremost retailers,

The features you need to look out for in the February and March issues of MI Pro

58 MIPro176 Forward Features_final.indd 58 15/12/2014 12:36

Distributed exclusively by EMD Music - Unit 1 South Lodge Court - Ironsbottom - Reigate - Surrey - RH2 8QG - Tel 01293 862612 - Fax 01293 863665

THE NEWEST SOUND IN

EBONYDRUMHEADS

PLIES; 7.5-MIL EBONY AND 7-MIL CLEAR FILMS

ROVIDES WARMTH, VOLUME AND CLARITY

IMUM STICK ARTICULATION

AVAILABLE IN SIZES 8” – 18”

®

AdTemplate.indd 1 12/12/2014 15:17

We are delighted to have been honoured again in the MIA Awards:

Best Supplier 2014 (Large Category)

Best Acoustic Guitar 2014 (Faith Guitars FNCEMG)

Best Export Initiative 2014 (Faith Guitars)

Lifetime Achievement - (Bruce Perrin)

Happy New Year& Thank You for all your support

MIA Awards Happy New Year 2014-5 MIPro.indd 1 12/8/2014 5:03:43 PM

Documents

MIPro January issue 176